I think it is due to critics being afraid to be seen to be anti PC in this day and age where one misjudged phrase can cost your career. A lot of the entertainment industry is left leaning and the critics are part of that, they're just all singing from the same hymn sheet.
In honesty Chappelle is just the latest comedian to be attacked by critics for their lack of sensitivity to basically everyone, whilst the audiences continue to enjoy it. Comedy has always been on the edge of insults and people laughed along whilst a few shout loudly about how their chosen topic is not to be joked about.

As far as Gabbard goes, the lack of qualifying polls is a bit sketchy, but she just doesn’t have the name recognition of the others. They need to thin out the field as well, there are still 20 candidates the majority who have never polled higher than 3%. It results in crowded debates where nobody is actually shown as they only have enough time to use bullet points and snipe at each other.